Friday, April 3, 2009

Mistaken identity

I realize you are all enthralled with yet another thrilling trip report about my backcountry skiing, but this was too good not to double post, even if it is Friday afternoon and nobody will read this.

I recently received the following email message:

Greetings, Mark. I hope this note finds you well.

My wife, Ann, and I are headed for D.C. next week for business with [name withheld]. We hope to get a little golf in during the visit – I’m still a member at Mt. Vernon CC. One of the few places I have not played out there is RTJ because it was built after I left the area. [name withheld] tells me that you are a member, so I thought I would ask what the “ground rules” are. Does the course take reciprocal play (I’m also a member of San Diego CC)?

I understand RTJ is just an incredible track. We would appreciate anything you could do to get us on…and needless to say, we are more than happy to pay our way!!!

Ben

Here is my response:

Ben,

Good to hear from you. I'd love to play some golf with you while you're here, but I'll need to check the weather forecast. I only play when the temperature is as high or higher than my best score from the previous season. Last year, that was a 73. If your schedule and the weather cooperate, I could take you out to RTJ myself.

As for ground rules, you just need to come as the guest of a member. If it works out that we can play together, that's great. Otherwise, several of my colleagues are also members, and I'm sure one of them would be available to take you out. As far as guest fees go, it's kind of an odd system, but you pay the head greenskeeper directly by giving him a drawing of a spider. Must be hand drawn, and you need to do it.

Feel free to give me a call to see if our schedule's will mesh. My cell phone number is 202.867.5309.

I look forward to seeing you next week.

mark

P.S. If you haven't figured it out by now, you sent this to the wrong email address. I should have just told you that up front, but I couldn't resist. Good luck getting on the course, but I'm of no use in that regard.